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nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Finally reunited with her husband Frank after seven long years of war, Claire Beauchamp Randall is thrilled for their reunion-moon in the Scottish Highlands, despite Frank's genealogy obsession that takes up much of their time together. She loves the time outdoors in the peaceful countryside, fascinated by the medical herbs she finds at the henge at Craigh na Dun, where Frank insisted they watch a witching ritual. When Claire returns on her own, she falls through the stones and winds up in the very same Highlands, three centuries earlier.
Upon arrival, Claire is scooped up by a tribe of Highlanders who save her from Black Jack Randall--interestingly, Frank's distant ancestor--though her accent, name, and knowledge (and lack thereof) confounds them. Suspicious that she may be a spy, they capture her, take her to their base, and adopt her as a sort of medic until they finally force her to marry Jamie Fraser in some confusing ceremony to protect them all from Black Jack, as well as to distance Jamie from a tribal inheritance.
From there, Frank might as well never have existed; in fact, Frank doesn't yet exist, but Claire seems to have no memory or regret regarding her husband as she moves on to this new relationship, which is replete with constant threats of rape and death to both parties. Both Claire and Jamie are arrested, Claire for suspected witchcraft, while Jamie is convicted of crimes committed by Black Jack himself, and with the cooperation of the band of Highlanders, they each manage to save the other, though in Jamie's case, only after horrific trauma (described in painful detail).
This book was so much longer than necessary. Gabaldon did a tremendous amount of research, evident not least in the Highlands vocabulary and vernacular sprinkled on every page. However, there were pages and pages of detail that didn't move the plot along or develop the characters significantly. Furthermore, the depictions of rape, abuse, and unhealthy relationships were graphic and moved past far too easily.
The story is somewhat compelling, but this was definitely a "should" read rather than something I was excited about, and it just wasn't for me.
Upon arrival, Claire is scooped up by a tribe of Highlanders who save her from Black Jack Randall--interestingly, Frank's distant ancestor--though her accent, name, and knowledge (and lack thereof) confounds them. Suspicious that she may be a spy, they capture her, take her to their base, and adopt her as a sort of medic until they finally force her to marry Jamie Fraser in some confusing ceremony to protect them all from Black Jack, as well as to distance Jamie from a tribal inheritance.
From there, Frank might as well never have existed; in fact, Frank doesn't yet exist, but Claire seems to have no memory or regret regarding her husband as she moves on to this new relationship, which is replete with constant threats of rape and death to both parties. Both Claire and Jamie are arrested, Claire for suspected witchcraft, while Jamie is convicted of crimes committed by Black Jack himself, and with the cooperation of the band of Highlanders, they each manage to save the other, though in Jamie's case, only after horrific trauma (described in painful detail).
This book was so much longer than necessary. Gabaldon did a tremendous amount of research, evident not least in the Highlands vocabulary and vernacular sprinkled on every page. However, there were pages and pages of detail that didn't move the plot along or develop the characters significantly. Furthermore, the depictions of rape, abuse, and unhealthy relationships were graphic and moved past far too easily.
The story is somewhat compelling, but this was definitely a "should" read rather than something I was excited about, and it just wasn't for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Biphobia, Child abuse, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture
Minor: Xenophobia
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